Stem-winding watch



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. H. POTTER. STEM WINDING WATGH.

No. 425,342. Patented Apr. 8, 1890.

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. H. POTTER. STEM WINDING WATCH.

PatentedApnB, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT H. POTTER, OF GENEVA, Sl/VITZERLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE TREN- TON VATOH COMPANY, OF TRENTON, NEW JERSEY.

STEM-WINDING WATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 425,342, dated April 8, 1890.

Application filed December 12, 1889. Serial No. 333,483. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:.

Be it known that I, ALBERT H. POTTER, of Geneva, in the canton of Geneva, Switzerland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stem-Vindiug \Vatches; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my watch from the front, the front plate and the timetrain, excepting the spring-barrel, being removed. Fig. 2 is a like vieW of the stem-arbor and its connecting parts separated from each other; and Figs. 3 and 4 are sections upon lines 00 a: of Fig. 1, and show, respectively, the positions of parts when the winding and setting engagements are effected.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

The object of my invention is to simplify the construction and to increase the efliciency of the winding and hands-setting mechanism of a stem-Winding watch; and to this end my said invention consists, principally, as an improvement in stem-winding watches, in a toothed wheel provided with a square axial opening, in combination with a round, rotatable, and longitudinally-movable arbor which passes through such opening and is provided with a squared section that is adapted to loosely fill the same when the arbor is moved longitudially in one direction and to be withdrawn from the axial opening when said arbor is moved longitudinally in an opposite direction, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter specified.

It consists, further, in the combination of a [rotatable longitudinally-movable stem-arbor having a squared section, a toothed wheel provided with a square axial opening, and means whereby said arbor is automatically locked at each limit of its longitudinal motion, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter shown.

It consists, further, in the combination of a rotatable longitudinally-movable arbor provided with a squared section, mechanism whereby said arbor is automatically locked at each limit of its longitudinal motion, and two toothed wheels which are each provided with a square axial opening, are journaled upon or around said arbor, and are adapted to be alternately engaged by and released from the squared section of said arbor as the latter is moved longitudinally in opposite directions, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

It consists, finally, in details of construction, substantially as and for the purpose 6o hereinafter shown and described.

In the carrying of my invention into practice I secure upon the back plate A of a watchmovement a bridge B, that has the general shape shown in Fig. 2, is arranged upon the side of the movement adjacent to the casependant c, and is provided with an opening I), which corresponds axially to the axial opening 0' of said pendant. WVithin said bridge are provided two parallel slots 21' and b that are vided with a square axial opening (Z or c, as

shown.

Journaled within and passing through the bridge and stem openings 1) and c and through the openings (1 and e of the Wheels D and E is an arbor F, which upon its outer end is provided with a crown f of usual form, has generally a round form, and is adapted to be rotated and also to be moved longitudinally within certain limits. Said arbor is locked at the limits of its longitudinal motion by means of a flat spring G, that is secured upon the bridge B, and has its free end g in engagement with the periphery of said arbor, where is provided a circumferential groove f, that receives said spring When the latter is at the inner limit of its longitudinal motion, and an inwardlybeveled face f which receives said spring when said arbor is at the outer limit of its longitudinal motion.

Upon that portion of the arbor F which 5 passes through the wheels D and E is formed a short square section f that corresponds in size to the dimensions of the openings d and c, and is adapted to pass into either of the same when said arbor is moved longitudi- 10o nally within its bearings. The position of said squared section with relation to said wheels is such that when said arbor F is at the inner limit of its longitudinal motion said section is in engagement with said wheel D, and the latter will rotate whenever said arbor is revolved, while when said arbor is at the outer limit of its longitudinal motion said squared section f engages with said wheel E and compels the same to rotate with said arbor. It will be seen that the wheel which is not engaged by the squared section is e11- tirely free from the rotative action of the arbor, while at a point midway between said wheels said squared section will influence neither.

The wheelD engages with and imparts motion to a similar wheel H, which is pivoted upon a yoke I, that is in turn pivoted upon the back plate A and moves in a plane having a right angle to the plane of said wheel D. Said wheel H in turn engages with a wheel K, that is secured upon the barrel-arbor L, so that when the stem-arbor F is at the inner limit of its longitudinal motion rotation in one direction will cause said barrelarbor to revolve and the mainspring of the watch to be wound. Motion in an opposite direction will, through the action of the pivoted yoke, cause the teeth of said wheels D and H to slip over each other or ratchet back in the usual manner.

The wheel E engages with one of the usual dial-wheels, and when the stem-arbor is at the outer limit of its longitudinal motion enables the hands to be set by the rotation of said arbor.

It will frequently happen that when the stem-arbor is moved lengthwise its squared section will not coincide with the opening of the wheel with which it is to engage. When such is true, the engagement will be automatically completed by the action of the spring G as soon as said arbor has been rotated sufficiently to cause said square and opening to coincide, for which purpose the engaging portions of said spring and arbor are given such forms as to cause the former to exert an endwise pressure upon the arbor as soon as it has moved slightly beyond the center of longitudinal motion in either direction.

While a square form is preferably employed for the axial openings of the wheels and of the engaging, portion of the stem-arbor, I do not limit myself to such, as any other form which will cause engagement may be used without departure from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. As an improvement in stem-winding watches, a toothed wheel provided with a square axial opening, in combination with a round, rotatable, and longitudinally-movablc arbor which passes through such opening and is provided with a squared section that is adapted to loosely fill the same when the arbor is moved longitudinally in one direction and to be withdrawn from the said axial opening when said arbor is moved longitudinally in an opposite direction, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. As an improvement in stem-winding watches, a rotatable and longitudinally-movable stem-arbor having a squared section, a toothed wheel provided with a square axial opening, and means whereby said arbor is automatically locked at each limit of its longitudinal motion, substantially as and for the purpose shown.

3. As an improvement in stem-winding watches, the combination of a rotatable and longitudinally-movable stem-arbor provided with a squared section, mechanism whereby the arbor is automatically locked at each limit of its longitudinal motion, and two toothed wheels which are each provided with a square axial opening, are journaled upon or around said arbor, and are adapted to be alternately engaged by and released from the squared section of said arbor as the latter is moved longitudinally in opposite directions, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

l. As an improvement in stem-winding watches, the combination of the rotatable and longitudinally-movable arbor provided with the squared section and having a pcripheral groove, a spring-detent which en gages with and locks said arbor in longitudinal position, and a toothed wheel that has a square axial opening, substantially as and for the purpose shown and described.

5. As an improvement in stem -winding watches, in combination with the windingwheel and dial-wheels, the rotatable and longitudinally-movable arbor provided with a squared section, and two toothed wheels which have each a square axial opening, are journaled upon or around said arbor and adapted to be engaged by or released from said squared section, and are connected, rospectively, with said winding-wheel and said dial-wheels, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 7th day of December, 1889.

ALBERT l-I. POTTER.

Witnesses:

GEo. S. PRINDLE,

J AS. E. llorcnmson. 

